The bones of La Nuestra Familia (NF) originated in September
1967 with the initial name “La Familia” at the Deuel Vocational Institution
in Tracy, California. The gang’s initiators then changed the organizations
name to “La Nuestra Familia” on September 1968 at the Northern California's
Soledad Correction Training Facility. The violent prison gangs founding
fathers, Haero Morgan, Robert Joseph Gonzales, Bobby Joe Barkley and Freddy
Gonzales believed that the gang would unite all northern Hispanic inmates.
Their main objective was to divide prisoners from northern California and
compete with the southern California based Mexican Mafia.

MEXICAN MAFIA VS NUESTRA FAMILIA
As soon as Nuestra Familia members began arriving at the San Quentin maximum
security prison in 1968, high ranking Mexican Mafia members attempted to
kill the NF seed before it grew. NF member Sonny Pena was the first victim
to be murdered by the Mexican Mafia. Pena’s brutal murder was the Mexican
Mafia’s way of informing California’s prison population that new gangs would
not be accepted. The Mexican Mafia wasn’t the only prison gang to reject
the idea of a new barracuda in the pond. The Aryan Brotherhood also joined
in the attack by murdering Nuestra Familia member Fred Charles Castillo
on February 3, 1972. All Mexican-American prisoners from northern California
became immediate targets, leaving the California Department of Corrections
with no other choice but to segregate all Nuestra Familia members and northern
California inmates. This gave Nuestra Familia the perfect opportunity to
unite all northern California inmates and opened the doors to thousands
of new members.
Bakersfield, California soon became the dividing line between the Nuestra
Familia and Mexican Mafia territory.

NUESTRA FAMILIA RANKING STRUCTURE
The NF operates in a paramilitary fashion. The gang has a Supreme Commander,
several Generals, regimental captains, lieutenants and soldiers.

NUESTRA FAMILIA AND PELICAN BAY STATE PRISON
Northern California’s Pelican Bay maximum security prison became a command
center for the NF and was home of most of the gang’s highest ranking members.
Behind bars they ran the prison drug trade and controlled thousands of street
gang members. All Mexican Mafia members unfortunate enough to be sent to
Pelican Bay were murdered by the NF on sight. As the NF matured, so did
the seriousness of their crimes. The Nuestra Familia became involved in
murder, burglaries, extortion, and drug dealing on the streets of San Jose,
Fresno, Bakersfield and Sacramento. The gang adopted then adopted the blood
in blood out policy in 1974 and began murdering off NF members who proved
to be unloyal to the gang.

NUESTRA FAMILIA’S JR. BRANCH
Nuestra Familia leaders decided to organize a structure division called
“Nuestra Raza”, more commonly known as “Northern Structure”. The new branch
would serve as a prospect base for those interested in joining Nuestra Familia.
Northern Structure prospects would have to earn membership into NF by following
the gang’s orders. Gang hits were always handed down to Northern Structure
prospects and gave wanna be’s the opportunity of proving themselves to the
NF. Before a sponsored prospect can qualify as a member of the NF, the offender
must gain knowledge of the gang’s constitution officially known as the “XIV
Bonds”. The Northern Structure became the ears of the senior Nuestra Familia
and was required to deal drugs for its father hierarchy. Northern Structure
sold drugs in the streets and brought in funds for ranking NF members behind
bars.

NUESTRA FAMILIA DECLINES
Soon after the U.S. government began hammering La Nuestra Familia with RICO,
many of its high ranking members became paranoid and began ordering the
murders of dozens of its members suspected of cooperating with police. Hundreds
of NF members lost moral as a result and began quitting the gang. Today
the Nuestra Familia remains active but lacks the power it once had.

NUESTRA FAMILIA CHRONOLOGIES OF EVENTS

In 1966, “La Familia” is formed in the Deuel Vocational Institution
in Tracy, California, but is renamed “La Nuestra Familia” in Northern California's
Soledad Correction Training Facility in 1968.

In 1968, Sonny Pena is stabbed to death by the Mexican Mafia
at San Quentin state prison. The killing was the official starting point
of non stop warfare between both prison gangs.

On September 16, 1968, A Nuestra Familia member is brutally
stabbed in the Folsom state prison by the Mexican Mafia.

On October 19, 1972, Mexican Mafia member Leonard Arias is
stabbed to death by Nuestra Familia members in a dormitory at the California
Correctional Institution at Tehachapi, California. (People v. Vargas, 5
Crim. 1735)

On December 31, 1976, Mexican Mafia member Alejandro Moreno
is murdered by Nuestra familia members.

In January 1982, the Nuestra Familia becomes the first prison
gang in United States history to be charged under the federal Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. RICO marks the beginning
of the end of La Nuestra Familia.

In 1993, Nuestra Familia members are indicted for a string
of murders involving drugs. The motive of the murders involves narcotics.
(The People v. Vargas, 110 Cal.Rptr.2d 210 (Cal. App. 6 Dist., 2001)

On July 13, 1998, Nuestra Familia members raid the home of
Andrea Mestas in an attempt to murder her boyfriend Ronny Giminez. The gang
members murder Mestas and her unborn fetus as she puts up a fight. (People
v. Valdez, C036614 (CA 2/4/2005)

On April 19, 1999, Nuestra Familia murder 20 year gang veteran
ROBERT "Brown Bob," VIRAMONTES in his garage. NF leaders in Pelican
Bay state prison ordered the hit because Viramontes was no longer involving
himself in crime.

In April 2001, 13 high ranking Nuestra Familia members and
associates are indicted under the federal RICO.